Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Switch 2 Miracle, but FPS Cut

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has long been hailed as one of the most ambitious JRPGs ever crafted. In 2024 we declared it a masterpiece, and that verdict has only grown stronger after we were able to experience the game ahead of its Switch 2 launch—alongside the Xbox Series version.

When we first reviewed the title over two years ago, we meticulously highlighted every strength: the sheer scale of its vision, Square Enix’s remarkable ability to reimagine a beloved classic, and a presentation that shone both technically and playably. The reaction was so powerful that we wondered how the Japanese studio would push itself further in this third, and increasingly imminent, chapter that completes a genre‑defining trilogy, essential for both die‑hard fans and curious newcomers.

The sequel’s journey mirrors that of its predecessor. Both titles debuted exclusively on Sony consoles—PS4 for the original, PS5 for the remake—before eventually arriving on PC. That transition demanded a careful balancing act, reconciling the technical demands of diverse hardware with the constraints of console releases. Given the extensive development cycle and hefty budget, Square Enix had every incentive to provide players with maximum accessibility.

What few anticipated was the decision to bring the technical heft of these titles—originally engineered to push powerful consoles—to the Switch 2 platform.

Switch 2’s technical prowess continues to astonish. With Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the leap seemed manageable: the game’s linear design and era‑specific art style made the port less daunting. Adapting a title released five years prior (or four if we count the newer generation console release that added Yuffie’s chapter and performance tweaks) to a brand‑new console was, in theory, less monumental than doing the same for Rebirth. The latter’s defining feature is its expansive open world, which underpins much of its gameplay mechanics.

Our goal was never to conduct a side‑by‑side technical breakdown; instead, we simply wanted to highlight how consistently impressed we were by Square Enix’s craftsmanship throughout the port. As we noted at the outset, adapting a title like FFVII Remake, which debuted natively on PS4, differs markedly from porting a technical juggernaut that pushed the limits of PS5, PS5 Pro, and PC hardware. The challenge lies not only in replicating the stunning visuals, world design, and texture fidelity but also in preserving the vast array of content—countless cinematics, a masterful soundtrack, and frenetic combat sequences—that expand the epic narrative of the franchise’s seventh entry.

There is an unmistakable technical downgrade compared to other platform releases. The mere fact that a game of this magnitude can be enjoyed on Switch 2 is a testament to the relentless efforts of developers to showcase their technical prowess over time. It would be a mistake to view this adaptation as a rival to any other version that has yet to see the light of day. Moreover, the port does not introduce any of the high‑profile features that were heavily discussed at the console’s launch, such as mouse support, which here feels marginal. Fans will naturally prefer a smooth visual and performance experience over peripheral gimmicks that the game was never designed to accommodate, and many of those features have faded in relevance over time, save for a few notable exceptions.